Suspension device for motor-frames.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

H. A. KNOX.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR MOTOR FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.17, 1906.

' 4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

( wrmayr.

rm; NORRIS PETERS C0,, WAsHlNcfon, a. c.

PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

H. A. KNOX.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR MOTOR FRAMES.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T'.17, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

may;

TH: "ohms FEIERS Co WASHINGTON, n. c.

- PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908.

H. A. KNOX. SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR MOTOR FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.17, 1906.

ll FT; IJ'

l I l rnz-uoRms PETERS ca wnsumcrou, 04 c PATBNTED MAR. 24, 1908.

SHEETS-SHEET 4.

may).

H. A. KNOX.

APPLICATION mum 001 .17, 1906.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR MOTOR FRAMES.

nu: NORRIS PETERS cu, WASHINGTUN, u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY A. KNOX, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR MOTdR-FRAMES.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY AUSTIN Knox, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in thecounty of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Suspension Devices for Motor l rames, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in motor frames for motor cars asused on automobiles, and especially of the type of frames known. as thethree-point suspension which are employed on heavy drays.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a structure that willpermit the forward axle to oscillate freely in a vertical plane about astud carried by the forward portion of. the reaches and at the same timerelieve the stud from all twisting or torsional strain that may beplaced upon the reaches of the Supporting framework.

Briefly stated, one form of my invention consists in rigidly bolting tothe forward axle a spring-post provided with oppositely extendingreduced ends and projecting above and below the axle, and in securing tothis axle a piece which 1 term the front frame end for connectingtogether the forward end of the reaches of the motor frame and also inconnecting the same to the forward axle. A spring-yoke is secured to thefront frame end to receive the oppositely-extending reduced ends of thespring-post on which are placed compression springs the same beinglocated between the ends of the springyoke and shoulders on thespringost whereby the forward axle can freely oscil ate on the studaccording to the unevenness of the road, and at the same time relievethe stud of all torsional strain on the motor frame proper that mayexist in practice between the forward end of the reaches and the frontaxle. Other forms of my invention will be referred to later in the bodyof the specification.

A further object is to provide a motor suspension frame that will permitthe forward end of the same to have a free vertical movement while therear end of the same remains fixed.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention,Figure 1 is a plan view ofmy improved three-point suspension motor-frame showing in outline thedriving motor. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the forward axle showingthe manner of securing the spring Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1906.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 339,347.

post to the same and the manner of securing the forward end of thereaches to the axle. Fig. Sis an end view of Fig. 2 showing in sideelevation the spring-yoke, the stud carried thereby, and about which thefront end of the motor frame can oscillate, and in dotted linestheaxle-yokes embracing said axle which permits the same to have freevertical oscillatory movement, and at the same time relieves the stud ofall torsional strain. Fig. 4 is amodification of the spring-post showingthe same pivotally secured to the front axle and also showing thespring-yoke and compression springs in place in the same manner as theview shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of the modification shown inFig. 4 and showing in side elevation the spring-yoke and the compressionsprings located between the ends of the yoke and the shoulders of thespring-post. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of another form of my inventionin which the spring-post instead. of being made in one piece, as shownin the other views, consists of two studs each provided with a shoulderto receive the inner end of the compression spring and screwed into theupper and lower side of the forward axle, the ordinary compressionsprings being located between the shoulders of the studs and the innerends of the spring-yokes, as before. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of theview shown in Fig. 6 in which the spring-yoke is shown in side elevationin the same manner as in Fig. 3.

Referring to these drawings in detail, a designates the forward axle,preferably made in the form of an I-beam, as indicated by thedottedlines l) in Figs. 1 and 3. To the outer ends of the axle arepivoted the usual studs 0 for supporting the forward wheels, asindicated at d.

c designates what I term a spring-post that is rigidly secured to theaxle c by means of the bolts f. This post is provided with projectingportions 9 that extend over and also beneath the axle a, as shown inFig. 3. In

tegral with the portions g are right angular extensions 72,, circular111 shape, for receiving the compression springs i and j that arelocated respectively above and below the prothe points a and 0. Theextensions h are p flattened at 7L1 to correspond in shape with theopenings a and 0. The yohes m carry a stud [1 that is secured to thesame by means of the nut 1" and locked in place by means of the pin 1'shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

s designates a shoulder between the threaded and unthreaded portions ofthe stud that bears firmly against the inner side of the s fring-yoke atwhen the nut 'r is turned up and ocked by the pin 7'.

t designates a hub or boss on the front frame end-piece a for receivingthe stud p. The front end-piece a is secured to the axle a by means ofthe yokes c which embrace the axle a and to'which the angle-iron. reachmembers to are rigidly secured at the point .r by bolting or otherwise,to the wing-members y of the piece u.' V

2 designates bolts that are passed through the rearwardly extendingupper and lower arms 2 of the yokes 2) that embrace the front axle a atthe shouldered points a. and which secure the forward end of the reachesto, w, to the axle e. These bolts also are passed through bosses on thefront frame-piece u, as indicated at 3, and with which the boss 25 ismade integral. The surfaces between the axle a and the front frame-piecea are planed off smoothly, as indicated by the numeral 4, and also thesurfaces between the shoulders a and the inner surface of the yokes o topermit free movements between the same. It will be seen from thisconstruction that the three points of suspension are at the points 5 and6 on the rear axle, and the spring-post c on the front axle, and inoperation the forward end of the reaches can move freely up and down,the surfaces 4 permitting this movement.

The springs t and absorb the vibrations due to the inequalities of theroad, lessening the jar to the machinery that is carried by the reachesto, as indicated conventionally by the letter w At the same time theyokes v move freely up and down on their bearings against the axle a.Should one of the forward wheels drop into a depression or pass over anelevation in the road-way, the forward axle will simply rotate the studp in the boss or hub t, the motion being transmitted by the elements I),e, /L and m. By means of this construction, all torsional strain istaken off from the stud p as the strains are borne by the yoke-pieces ewhich embrace the axle o and are located on opposite sides of thespring-post c, and closely embracing the axle a so that no lost motionwould occur between the axle and yoke, but freely permit the up and downmovements of the axle and reaches to. It will be seen therefore that bymeans of this construction I have produced a simple and strongconnecting means between the front axle and the forward end of thetruck-fram e, and one that will permit the two parts, as a whole, to

, mit the forward end of the reaches to which carry the drivingmachinery indicated by w to move freely up and down about the rear axleas a center.

Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. 4 and 5, 5 designates thespring-post that is secured to the forward axle a by means of thepivotal bolt 6 This post is in all respects like the one described aboveexcept that instead of being rigidly secured to the axle, it ispivotally secured. The usual compression springs i and are locatedbetween the shoulders 7c and the inner ends of the spring yoke-piece 7which does not rotate about a fixed axis or stud, as described above,but is secured directly to the front frame piece a that extends betweenthe yokes 0) so that the pivotal vibratory movement of the axle is aboutthe bolt 6 instead of about a stud that is secured. to the spring-yoke,as shown in the other figures.

In. this construction, bolts 8 are used to connect the front frame-pieceu to the yokeshaped pieces 12 in the same manner as described above. Inthe operation of this form, the spring yoke-piece 7, to which thereaches are secured, can play freely in a vertical plane, as abovedescribed, the planed surface 9 of the axle sliding on the planedsurface 10 of the spring-yoke 7, and the vertical oscillation of theaxle is about the bolt 6 Referring to the modifications shown in Figs. 6and 7, 12 designates studs that are secured to the upper and lower sideof the axle a. These studs are provided with threaded ends 13 that arescrewed into threaded openings 14 in the axle a. The upper and lowersurfaces of the axle care provided with. shoulders 15 for receiving theinner convolutions of the compression springs 01 that are locatedbetween these shoulders 15 and the inner ends of the spring yokepiece 16whichis similar to the spring-yoke m described above in connection'withFigs. 1, 2, and with the exception that the ends 17 instead of beingprovided with rectangular-' shaped openings, as shown in the abovefigures, are provided with circular openings 18. In order to strengthenthe ends of the spring yoke-pieces 16 and hold the same rigidly inplace, I use a strap 19, extending from the ends 17, that is securelyfastened to these ends by means of the bolts 20. In this form, the usualyokes c are used as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and the usual stud p aboutwhich the axle a vibrates when passing over the unevenness of theroadway. This stud is secured to the spring-yoke 16 in the same manneras shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the front frame-plate u, (in which theboss t is formed,) is secured in the same manner to the reaches of themotor frame. The operation of this form is identical with that describedin connection with Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

It will be seen that the invention herein described permits the rear endof the suspension frame to remain practically stationary in passing overobstructions, while the for ward end of the same can vibrate freely, thecompression springs which are located between the axle and thespring-yoke absorbing the shocks and preventing any injury to thereaches and. motor which is supported thereon. This construction alsolessens the liability to breakage of the reaches of the suspension framesince when the frame is rigidly supported at its ends breakage of thereaches occurs at practically the middle point of its length,

The construction described herein successfully overcomes the breakage ofthe reaches as proved by actual practice since the load thereon, whichis the motor indicated. at w is rigidly supported at only one endallowing the forward end. of the reaches to vibrate freely about therear axle as an axis.

The construction herein described maintains the two axles in planes thatare parallel at all times to each other, and also removes all torsionalstrain from the horizontal stud.

IVhat I claim, is

1. In a motor frame of thethree-point suspension type, a forward axle, aspring-post secured thereto and having oppositely extending arms, aspring-yoke carried. by said axle and connected to the reaches of theframe, and springs located between the outer ends of the yoke and theaxle.

2. In a suspension device for the forward end of a three-pointsuspension motor-frame, a forward axle, a spring-post secured theretoand having oppositely extending arms, yokes embracing said axle andlocated at opposite sides of the spring-support for attaching theforward end of the reaches to the axle, a spring-yoke located in thevertical plane of the spring post and receiving the extended arms of thesame, a spring surrounding said arms whereby the axle is permitted tomove freely in the vertical plane about a stud carried by thespring-yoke, said stud being in the same vertical plane as thespring-post, as described.

3. In a suspension device for the forward end of a three-pointsuspension truck, a forward axle, a front frame-piece slidably securedthereto, a spring-post secured to the axle and, having oppositelyextending arms with a shoulder portion between the arms and the bodyportion of the post, a,spring yoke receiving the oppositely extendedarms, a stud carried thereby for receiving a boredout hub portion on thefront frame-piece whereby free vertical movement of the forward end ofthe motor-frame is permitted, and whereby the forward axle and motorfraine can oscillate freely about said stud, as described.

4. In a motor frame construction, a rear axle, a forward axle, reachesconnecting the same, a motor supported. on the reaches and near the rearaxle, the forward end of the reaches being connected to a front frameend plate, said plate being pivotally connected to a stud supported bythe forward axle, a spring post carried by the axle, a yoke memberconnected to the spring post, springs between the axle and the ends ofthe yoke member, the stud being secured to the yoke member, whereby thereaches and front axle can move independently of each other, asdescribed.

5. In a motor frame construction, a rear axle, a forward axle, reachesconnecting the same, a motor supported on the reaches and near the rearaxle, the forward end of the reaches being connected to a front frameend plate, said plate being pivotally connected to a stud supported bythe forward axle, a spring-post carried by the axle, a yoke-memberconnected to the spring-post, springs between the axle and the ends ofthe yoke member, the stud being secured to the yoke member, whereby thereaches and front axle can move independently of each other.

HARRY A. KNOX.

Witnesses:

K. I. CLEMONs, H. W. BOWEN.

